Recicup: well minion 1, I'll have to go back and take a look to remember why. Lol!
Scmumsy: I see them as being the type to do so, barbs and all! Daniel may harbor lust towards our max, but his heart would never let it become anything more. He loves cece to much to mess things up. As for White, its not his time in the season yet. The bad guys always get what's coming to them though.
Sorrow Reminisce: I have to finish things or it drives me insane and I feel so GUILTY personally to NOT finish. I'll check out TBW, maybe post them up if I find the time. Currently I'm writing two fic's so hopefully yeah! But I really want to thank you so much or your compliment, means a LOT!
Dark Angel season 5 ep.2
The phone rang three times before Gamble picked up, "Don't really care if you're busy right now, I just need to know the truth on something." I knew I was throwing him a curve ball, but considering what bullshit White just pulled on me less than five hours ago, I needed to know, "Did you know White was gonna pull a grab team made up of your familiars on it? Cause it seems a bit suspicious that less than a day before we prep to see Sandman, he pops up and pulls a stunt like that." I barked.
"Max…" he sounded like he was trying to calm me or shush me, "White grabbed you?" he sounded off, like something wasn't right, "Yeah. His bitch Thula along with some guy named Xander was there." I replied. He sounded exasperated, "This must have come from a higher up personel or he did this on his own cause his newest ploy to take you down, though unknown to me, I know for a fact has nothing to do with kidnapping you." I scoffed.
How would he know? "Right now considering you rights, it would be 'social suicide' to attempt it. The press would have a field day with him." okay I can concede to that point… "If White's doing this he's getting desperate. You need to stay inside the walls till our meeting with Sandman." He urged, "No problem, Alec's got me on lockdown around here. Its sweet but annoying as hell." You'd think I couldn't handle my own.
"I agree with him on this one, White, I haven't seen him moody like this since he found out his father abandoned the conclave." Wow… "So he's really falling behind with his supporters up in there huh?" I asked. I looked out my office window, moving the blinds around where I felt so I could see better and hid better. Alec popped in there seconds later, seeing I was on the phone he simply plopped himself down on the spare chair across from my own.
He mouthed 'who?' I mouthed' Gamble'. He nodded, "Unfortunately for himself, yes. For you all, no. I heard that today he's leaving for a lengthy trip to the senate or something to that nature." I nodded. Alec looked a tad worried, "Why would he go there? You guys have people up there?" it was a tad scary to think that maybe there was a familiar that high up in the political food chain.
"No, we were never able to get to that point. Back rounds for certain political types had and still have to be squeaky clean, and a lot of times our people as good as we are and were, always had some fault to prevent us from getting that high up the food chain. Don't you think if that were the case we would have already have pulled a political move to end everything before it could truly begin?" he did have a point, even Alec's head nudging agreed with him. "So if you don't have people that high up there, then what could White possibly be doing up there?"
It was agitating me to find out, "Maybe he simply knows someone. He is only going to be there for the weekend. I find it great timing seeing as how were all seeing Sandman tomorrow. It'll be a good way to not have to worry about him." I reluctantly agreed. "So we'll see you here at dawn, tomorrow morning, at the main entrance." I finalized. "See you all then." He and I both hung up. "So, you think were ready for this? All this time and now he's being made real." Alec stated in reference to Sandman.
I flipped my phone shut and sat down in my seat. Leaning back I put my hand to my face in mild worry and wonder, "I don't know how I feel about this. The first time I heard of Sandman was through Joshua, the second Renfro. I just hope he's the good guy were hoping for and not someone leading another crusade for another futile cause. I have enough of that the familiars on us, though that maybe coming to an end. I'm just not thrilled with situations that look to good to be true, cause usually their not." I surmised for him.
He made a gesture of understanding my dilemma before he stood up, walked around my desk and began gently massaging my shoulders, "Joshua believes Sandman's good, and if he truly created us to help protect the world from familiars, I think he's legitimate." His words inspired confidence, but I still felt off. "Who knows what he has to offer us. Or what he expects of us Alec." I stated.
"Well how about we just introduce ourselves and say 'hi'." I smiled a tad bit as I touched one of his hands with mine, "I think we'll have to give that to Joshua first and foremost. I just hope things aren't a big disappointment to the big guy. Tomorrow means a lot to him." I felt for Joshua, he was like a happy puppy, a bad as that sounds, about tomorrow. Apparently the meeting site, was way over in sector four, near China Town. Sandman wanted to choose the least likeliest locations to be seen at.
Quite brilliant actually. "Well till tomorrow, we should eat, pick up the girls and get some rest, I know I could use a shower myself." Neither of us had slept much in the last several hours. Once it got out that White snatched me up for a while Zack ranted on the pros of his death, while I ranted back the cons of his death, at least by our hands. White may have deserved death, but if it pointed to us, as a transgenic, it meant losing everything we've worked so hard to gain. All Zack saw was an enemy that needed neutralizing.
So both men, didn't really see eye to eye, and since Zack he was right regardless I had to explain to him the pros and cons so he could get the message. 'us kill FBI guy without normal proof of his trying to kill me first, bad', 'his own killing him, good'. I honestly don't think he truly sees me as the leader, just a figure head. It did hurt me that he thought so little but I think it's mostly due to my decisions rather than me personally. However was I going to let him in charge anytime soon…no.
I trust my brother, in the field, but not when it comes to leading a group of 200+ people. I know his methods would go right back to Manticore. Ironic since he was the one that made us establish identities, personalities, gave us the need to have normal lives, to want more for ourselves other than fear of what will happen if another one of us get seizures, can't survive the tank. Yet here he is, Manticore's perfect soldier, and he would run this place like that if given the chance. Its everything were running from and he'd run this place like that.
It's the structured part he frequents, the missions we handle, the loose environment – or the fact that HE feels its to lose. The only thing he, Mole and Daniel agree on is they all want White, and Gamble dead. Its only Alec, Cece, and Joshua on Gamble's behalf, other than myself, that want to keep our hands free of the blood. Gamble is proving to be pulling his weight, but now it seems his 'partner' is pursuing less 'partnered missions' and more 'solo ops'.
Zack…I love you like a brother since that's all I've ever known you as…but seriously, this ISN'T Manticore! I rubbed my temples, "Okay, let's go pick the girls up." I grabbed my leather jacket and walked out with him. Leaving the building we walked over to the nursery. Stepping inside we saw OC was holding Nyx. Nikita was being feed my bottled breast milk by Gem. "HI guys. Ready to pick up your girls?" Gem asked.
"Yeah." Once we packed their stuff up, blankets included, Alec and I each carried one girl back to the apartment. "They need a bath." Alec muttered. Truthful I think we all did. "Yeah, but so do we." I countered. "Let's take care of them first." I agreed as he fumbled with Nikita in his arms, getting the door unlocked as I held Nyx. Key popping the lock we walked in and shut the door smoothly to avoid startling the girls. They were awake but sensitive hearing could cause them to start crying from a loud bang.
I did have to admit though,, they were growing fast. "I wonder if it's a genetic thing to speed through 'babyhood' to toddler years or not." I pondered. Nyx, rose her head up, as if actually understanding me. "Bath time." I told her. She just smiled, "I think she has some of my shark DNA. She likes the concept of bath now." He rolled his eyes, "She's a baby, anything not related to vegetables or time outs is a likeable concept." He replied.
"Ignore daddy, sweets, he just wants to up mommy." I tell her. She smiles as I sit her on the rug by the wall. I would sit her on the toilet but even I felt it would be to much of a sensory shock action from neutral, to cold porcelain, for her. Running the tubs temperature to luke warm, we sat the girls up, stripped them, before placing them inside. Giving them a mild bathing soap, specifically for babies, we began washing them gently. "This is nice." Alec said. Watching Nyx playing in the water, creating splashes.
"Yeah… we have great baby girls." I surmised, watching Nikita match her sister, "Let's make more." Alec suggested. I had to start laughing at how he suggested to have more kids. When he looked at me bewildered I calmed myself down, "Sorry but you said it like you were thinking of making cookies. Making more babies isn't a cookie Alec. Let's focus on the girls here and now before we get ahead of ourselves." He seemed a bit a taken a back.
"For all we know we could end up with twins again. You want four girls to run or in our case blur around before were used it with these two yet? I'd like to get at least half used to being a mom with the daily run a rounds before we have more. Plus if we have more, we'd need a bigger space." He had to see where I was coming from. "Perhaps…I just…I don't know. I have this need for a larger family now." He surmised.
Nikita made a bigger splash, hitting me and capturing Alec's attention, "I think she's got some of her daddy in her personality." He looked to me, "As in likes attention." I explained. "Only the right kind though." He countered. I gave him a look of agreement. "Okay, time to get you guys ready for bed." Wrapping a towel around Nikita I pulled her out and walked to the area where we had Eve's old baby clothes.
We really need to make more dresser space for the girls. Ten minutes later, with some minor brushing of their teeth, and a final diaper check, they were good for shut eye. Alec took the first shower, already knowing we really couldn't leave the girls alone, and neither of us wanting to leave them alone for to long without some type of authority figure with them. Five minutes later he came out squeaky clean as well. I hoped in, 15 minutes later I popped out, feeling refreshed and clean.
With only boy shorts and a long t shirt of Alec's I fell to the mattress we had, and snuggled up next to Alec. He looked like he was trying to figure something out. "What's wrong?" I asked. He looked over from the girls room, his former bedroom, to me, then back and forth again, "Do you think they'll hear us?" he asked. I was a little lost till I figured what he meant. Not if were super quite." I snuck in.
For us it felt like if we showered with the girls in bed, we would be unprepared in case something may happen, but in our bed, it seemed at least that way, there wouldn't be that extra bit of noise to keep us from hearing them cry if need be. Super sensitive hearing or not, as new parents we figured it was just an extra precaution. Leaving the t shirt on he smoothly slid himself over on top of me, kissing my lips, jaw, my face before pulling my boy shorts to the side with one hand while the other pulled himself out of his boxers.
I smiled and reached down, taking over and gliding my hand over his ever increasing member, feeling him start to drip, moaning lightly, trying to contain them. I felt him against my folds as he tried to go in slowly, knowing a hard thrust would have me crying out in pleasure. He buried his head in my neck and sunk in all the way. For five minutes our rhythm was slow, and torturous, to the point where we were desperate to go faster and harder. "Here." I grabbed his hand putting it over my mouth.
Shocked by the idea as I put my hand over his, he tried it out by thrusting harder, hearing that we were indeed muffling each other's sounds, he went faster and harder with his thrusts, gaining momentum. I was reaching that point when he stopped. I looked at him with a confused and murderous intent. He smiled, finding a new, more stretchable position. Using both hands he pushed my legs far apart, making me do the splits, as my hands covered his mouth and my own finding his new idea worth trying.
He immediately went in with stronger, more powerful thrusts, making us both bounce around, but the noises were still kept at the bare minimum. We smiled at figuring out how to prevent the girls from hearing while putting a new 'kink' in our sex life. His grip tightened, placing small finger shaped bruises into the skin there. I didn't care, it was to good to care. Getting close again, I started to hyperventilate when he thrust one last time, removed both of his hands from my thighs, removed my hand from his mouth and sunk his teeth into my mated mark.
To avoid screaming out in pleasure filled pain I grabbed his ass, pulling him in closer and clamping my mouth over his own mated mark. The pain, pleasure combination from each other, sent the thrilling sensations needed to push us both over the edge. Panting, still after several minutes had gone by I remarked, "We should do that more often." He smiled, before dipping his head down to like his bite mark. The saliva's healing compounds acting as a sealant as did mine as I licked his own mark.
"No argument there…" I purred. "Don't do that." he move one of his hands to glide into my hair only to pull my head back further, "Why not?" I looked up at him through lidded eyes, "Makes me feel like - " the baby monitor sounded. "I got the first half." He rolled over letting me up, "I was getting a tad sleepy anyways." I quirked a brow in his direction, "What? Not all of us have shark DNA." He explained.
"True…" I turned back around headed for the girls room, "But it has its uses…" I smirked, trying to avoid letting the shaking in legs from making me trip. Having an orgasm like that isn't easy to walk away from. Walking into the girls room I saw Nikita was crying. Looking around trying to spot anything that could have frightened her I noticed, a shadow on the wall. Looking to its origin I saw a few branches of a tiny tree in another apartment complex.
Stunned that that has been what scared her, not the fact of it but the fact that she could see a scary thing from it stunned me. I picked her up, to help avoid her waking her sleepy sister. "I sweat you are more like your father. Thanks to his cat DNA and now yours, you both love to sleep…something your sister hopefully catches onto." I looked down at Nyx, seeing her eyes semi awake.
She was trying to fall asleep but I had a feeling that genetics were starting to rear their heads again. "You might have mommy's shark DNA." I whispered to her. Finally Nyx called down as I was able to put her back in her crib. I was glad we had moved their cribs to Alec's old bedroom, having their cribs in our room was just becoming over crowded. Why we ever tried to do that to begin with was a mystery to me. I walked around her crib to see where she could have possibly have seen it from.
Clear as day if you could zoom in your eye sight, was three tiny speckled branches. The apartment building next door wasn't as far apart as one might think, so a few branches on a tree was as farfetched as one might think it to be. The plant itself, while small, still cast about a faint shadow on any bright nearby surface. Closing the window it made me wonder how many more abilities the girls would have compared to ourselves. Then again unless we had a nice talk with Lydecker we may not know.
After all we may have been the same way as well. The human memory, even for transgenics only goes back so far. Walking back into our room I saw the red numbers of our alarm clock read '2:42 a.m.'. Sighing I snuggled back in bed while Alec turned back over to my side and pulled me in, "What was it?" he muffled into my hair. Giving a very light snort I replied, "The plant in the next building over scared her." He angled his head in confusing.
"That tiny thing? But you can only see that in the dark if you - " now he felt more awake next to me, "Were her eyes dilated?" he asked. A worried yet, partially excited fatherly tone came from him, "Cause I that's…wow…" he was now bewildered and excited as much as he was baffled, "They have two X5's for parents. Did you really think NOTHING would pass over?" I asked slightly sarcastically.
"No I just…just so fast was all. Maybe we should talk to Deck about this." He questioned, settling back, his face burying itself in my hair. "Yup…when we get back from our trip to see Sandman. Right now…sleeeeppp." I hummed, trying to get him to sleep as well. Tomorrow was a big day for a lot of people, if anything I should have a talk with Deck and Gem about the girls' ability progress. Who knows maybe they can offer insight, and maybe Deck can tell us how fast the growth process really is for a second generation X5.
The next morning seemed like a rush, Joshua was excited and made it to the van we were using before anyone else, Mole, and Gem were left in charge while Daniel and Cece came along with us. Zack was perturbed that a so called 'desert nomilie' got to be in charge over him while we were gone, proving our theory that he wouldn't be ready to leading anything more than a simple unit into combat situation.
All packed up to go to 'China Town' in sector four, we hit the gas and left. The girls waving to us in the stroller we lent to Gem for our time out. Sitting back I saw Joshua was in all smiles. "I know big fella, just a few more hours. China Town's not exactly a 30 minute trip." I state pensively, still un aware of how this meeting would be going. We were armed of course, I had a few spar knives tucked into my boots, Alec had his Glock ready, and also had a hunting knife and two spare clips just in case.
We also brought more of the serum that was very hard to make to knock out a familiar with us, after all we weren't sure what would be out there. If Sandman had familiars on his side, or a 'mole' by his un knowing side. The trip itself took nearly four hours with morning traffic, sector cops wanting to give us a hard time at the check points and of course the check points. They were getting more crowded due to the sector cops trying to shake more people down.
"No honor in a broken world…." I muttered to myself, shaking my head. Once we breached China Town the atmosphere was different, more crowded, more vendors filled the streets. I didn't venture here to often, only on JP runs to deliver packages, and that wasn't that common down here. No I didn't know this place to well, it wasn't even to worthwhile to try and find a score back in the day…or now.
We came up to the address of the hotel he would be at. Place looked run down, but at least decently managed. "Were here looking - " Alec got in front of me, "Were here with the Gamble party." I looked to him, he merely winked before turning back to the Chinese man. Middle aged, "二樓到您的權利. (The second floor to your right.)." he pointed over to the staircase to the right side of the building. Alec ushered us over, "謝謝." (Thank you.) He said to the man.
"Since when do you speak Chinese?" I asked, "Since 14. Spanish and Polish at 15, Then Thai and Russian at 17, Japanese at 18." He smiled. I was in awe, "Wow….you need to teach me…" I waved with my hands a bit, "All of that." he laughed at her un like normal max antics, "Any time sweetheart." Reaching the door he gave the knocks Gamble had phoned them with early on. He answered, "Glad you could come." Opening the door we all walked in.
Shabby, beat down, but sleepable. "So where…" I looked briefly around, spotting a head of white hair before Joshua rushed past me, like a child to his father and hugged whom I presumed was Sandman, "Father!" he was so happy, like a child at Christmas time. I actually had to laugh at the smile on Joshua's face. He had lost Annie from all of this muddled bull shit so for him to find his father was something huge.
Of course we still had questions that need to be asked, "I presume your Sandman." I noted once it looked as if Joshua was easing up from his hug. He let go and for the first time ever we saw the old man, and he was just that old. Had to be at least nearing his 70's, white hair, bristly beard, though not to long or bushy. He actually looked more like a retiring business man rather than an aging, rogue cult member.
He took one look at me and it was as if there was instant recognition. My guess would be in the eyes for me it was simple, "My little one, my special little one…my how you've grown into a beautiful young woman." That voice, those words…it was him. He wasn't a fake, this was legitimate, "I really don't know what to say. I know I've got a lot of questions." I remarked, trying to make myself seem less intimidating.
It wasn't just Gamble, but as we suspected there were three un identified people in the room with him. And they weren't just thugs either. These guys seemed to move a bit like White, only less arrogant and more cautious. Familiars maybe. "Please allow me a moment to see how you've grown." He took a long, fatherly look at me. "Last I saw you, you were yey high." He indicated with his hands to show a small child.
"Max…?" Alec asked, wondering why I didn't say anything about the remark, "I saw him back at Manticore, why did you leave? Did the conclave run you out?" there were more questions than that, but I would start it out there, "Ah yes, I heard White's been giving you some trouble." He commented. I looked over to Gamble, but Alec's sarcastic chuckle beat me to the punch, and gained Sandman's eyes on him. "Trouble? Right." "493?" he questioned. "EENNN! Wrong answer pop's try again." He smirked.
"494." His tone sounded more regal almost. "493's twin. Clone. Interesting. Tell me from what I've heard from Gamble you two have given birth to twins, how far along have their X5 systems developed." Now my interest was peaked, but before I could ask Daniel interrupted, "As well as the others – who cares, what I wanna know about is how are we gonna defeat your former 'co -workers' would that be it?" I shook my head at Daniel's way of going about it.
"What he means is there are bigger problems here than the development of my – our girls." I indicate between myself and Alec. He nods, "Perhaps. But you do realize with you constantly in White and the conclaves way of business per say, you've painted a nice target on your back." I sighed, "We know this…have had it there for years." I surmised, "Ah but White…my son is at the end of his tether with you and now the conclave is at its own with him." I looked to Gamble for explanation.
"What he means is White's called out all the troops. I have a friend where he's at and he's called in some hefty favors to help him out. He's exhausting his resources." I nodded, "Well its good and bad news. Good news is, he's end is coming soon, bad news is, we got no idea what the hell it is." Alec remarked. "Actually we do." We all looked to him, "He's bringing in someone whom has his own contract with the government. There's a lieutenant or general, didn't get the name just yet, he runs an advanced military unit himself."
I was confused, "So there's another 'version' of Manticore out there?" I asked, blanching at the thought, "Something like that only more 'procedural' and less 'emotional'. Someone whose also willing to be expendable on the battle field. He runs it tighter than Lydecker ran Manticore, if that was even possible." I was stunned. My shoulders seemed to sag and jitter around with the news, not wanting to stand in one place I began pacing mildly back and forth.
"Someone worse than Deck?!" I snapped, stopping momentarily. "The plan is to have the government callback its soldiers." He said. I disagreed, "Not possible, were free citizens, papers are signed and everything. Government can't call us for anything, not unless they get volunteers or something." But Gamble and even Alec seemed to be thinking the same thing, I noticed as I looked to Alec for support.
"What?" I snapped, looking back and forth at both men, not keen on what they were silently talking about. "If they go about it the right way, but that's a long shot for them, especially now." Alec remarked, finally breaking the silence. He had my attention, "Max we were made by the government to protect the country. At any time if they pull the right strings they can pull us back in the frying pan." This wasn't good."But were citizens! Did this past year of fighting for our rights mean nothing?!" I yelled, now looking to Gamble.
He looked like he was struggling, No it means that the government has to officially announce your legitimacy, which it already has thanks to White, then it has to 'order a 'recall' or a 'draft' if you will for the soldiers. The plan their going with, was something that was created by General Avram Rose. He's the Commander and Chief of the U.S. Armed forces. It was suppose to be in effect January 12, 2015. Codename, 'The Pheonix Project'."
What the…? "It was created and is built towards restoring America to its rightful super power. It was halted June 9, 2009." I sighed in realization, "The Pulse stopped it." I was stunned, "So this thing was suppose to come around but never did, now their using it as an 'excuse' to kick us back into military service?" I demanded. Gamble continued on, "Look the 'The Pheonix Project' was supposed to re channel the government's resources and individual energies towards the restoration." Un believable…
"I know how it sounds but it also proves that if things fall through, White's finished, or rather the conclave is finished with him. once the conclave realizes their plans for power and as ridiculous as it sounds but you've heard it from White to no doubt, world domination. You've stopped them once with their water poisoning meltdown but now their going to pull out all the stops. The government is a way of diverting your attention from what they plan to do to the people of the city." I looked to Alec, "It's a decoy."
Hand up to mouth in a covering motion he pulled away in agitation, "So not only do we have to stall anything to do with this government attempt to take over once it happens but White and his merry band of 'painless dicks' plan to pull all their resources?" Gamble nodded in mild defeat, "Well this has been a lovely meeting." Daniel muttered. I couldn't even fault him for his attitude, he was right.
"Well we are still a step ahead of him. We know what he's planning so we can use the time to counter it. We can learn what he and the other conclave members plan on doing this time and - " "Do what Max? Other than your boy over there we have no way of finding out exactly what's going on. And you don't want us to risk compromising him so how do we use this to our advantage?" Cece asked. I guessed it would only be so long before the pressure of the news nailed someone in here.
"We take away their trump card. Destroy whatever they have planned just like before." White's going to get his ass beat down so hard… "Just one favor." Sandman asked. We looked to him, "I know White cannot be saved but at least see if CJ is alive and if so to set him free." I swallowed in apology, "Last time I saw your son CJ, White shot him in the chest. He told me to go, and with a truck full of captured transgenics I didn't have a choice." I bit my lip to avoid saying sorry, though I did feel it a man still went down that day.
"What else do you know about the 'Pheonix' thing." Alec asked, getting back on topic, "It was to be a covert under taking. The foreign propaganda would be altered to signify and show America's historical success. The foreign aid would be rechanneled to soley pro – American forces. There would be no alliance with antagonists for any duration. Pheonix was and is now if they succeed, to take Manticore made soldiers and to put them at the front lines for our defense, to protect the project at all costs, to protect our way of life at all costs or die trying."
I was having a hard time breathing. It was like the walls were closing in on me. I was finding out ahead of time that the government was coming out of hiding to claim us while un knowing to them, the conclave would sneak in under the radar and eradicate the populace, "NO one would know what hit them." I mutter. "White and his merry band of 'dicks and bitches' get away with taking over the world while the government try to find out why their being shoved out of their places and are dying off." Fucking brilliant.
"At least in theory. We'll nail these ass's to the wall. In the meantime we'll gather more data on the ruins, what they mean and figure out game plans to beat White at his own game." Everybody nodded. I was thankful, they sounded more confident than I did. "Which reminds me, why in the hell do I have ruins on my skin? Did you encode them?" I demanded. Sandman looked down, "I didn't want to have to involve such an extreme measure but the conclave left me no choice." He stated, upset as he paced about the hotel room.
"What do you mean extreme? Freaking her out? Having a bunch of us try to decipher a thousand year old language that no one else LITERALLY could read. Well not unless they could dedicate time consuming hours decoding it." Alec smarted off. If it hadn't been for how annoyed I was with the damned things to begin with I would have smacked him for smarting off to begin with, as it was I was tempted to smart off to.
"I mean, young man…" he started off, irritated at Alec for obvious lack of respect towards him, "Extreme as in using my 'precious little one' to be the messenger of my warning. I didn't want the burden to be on you, but CJ, his head was a little off to begin with, and White…for obvious reasons. I made sure to talk to the Geneticists that were splicing up your DNA, so that I could have access to your genetic makeup." What the…?
"You know exactly what's in my DNA? You put – how do you encode a message into DNA to begin with? How is that even possible?!" I snapped out, irritation and anger fuelling my need over the past few years of not being given the truth. He looked to me like a father trying to placitate his daughter, "You have several different animals within you, a perfect blend so you could combat the evils of the conclave, and I encoded the message to activate weeks after you would make contact with the snake blood."
Un…fuc…bel…my head is spinning now. "So 'when the shroud of death covers the face of the earth, the ones whose power is hidden will deliver the helpless', was your main message piece?" I demanded. He nodded but almost looked as if there was more. "What?" my irritability was getting worse, Alec could feel it and walked a step towards me, trying to get me to calm down, it did a little bit to help. "He he's helping out, give him a chance to talk before you snap his head all the way off." He suggested.
I snipped at Alec, "Did you happen to have freaky cult ruin symbols magically appearing on your skin, with some apparent mystical reasoning, freaking you out?" he huffed, "No, but were all in this together." He reasoned, the ruins were always a touchy subject for me. We hadn't had time to deal with them a lot lately, or at all with more pressing matters arising. "So what's up with these symbols? Why me, why weeks after my brush with the snake blood, what am I suppose to do and please let the story have a good ending?"
I questioned the first half and hoped for the latter, "They are a message for what is to come. I know there are a few people out there in the world that can translate the language, I can get you in contact with them, that is if you want to translate ALL of it. According to Gamble here you've only got your small two sentence message. There's more." A little pissed now I demanded, "Why can't you just tell me yourself?"
"I've got to agree with her on this one, why not just tell us?" Daniel added in, "If you want our help you might want to play ball cause as you can see, this is bigger than just the people in this room. We've got a LOT of people back home who deserve to know how the familiars want to end this 'ping pong game' we seem to be playing." I surmised. "But you're not going to are you?" Cece huffed at him. He stood calm, "I have very little time left here." He got out before coughing up.
"I didn't know familiars could get sick." Made me wonder if we could just build a familiar flu virus to knock the adults at least out. But then cases of abandon kids…oooiii…. "Not even familiars are invulnerable doctor's mistakes." I frowned, "What are you talking about?" I asked, "When I escaped everyone assumed I got away clean, just vanished into thin air, but I got caught, by my own son no less. He wanted to bring me in as proof he wasn't like me."
Poor old man. White is a first grade A douche bag to do something like that. "I tried to talk some sense into him, but he wouldn't listen. I made my getaway and gained a bullet as my reward, and as I was on the run, I couldn't go to a regular hospital." I lowered my head at the possibilities, "Back alleys…or worse…butchers…" he nodded his head, "They stopped the bleeding but without being able to go to a real doctor within a year of it happening they told me my tissue would heal over the bullet." Holy…
"You've been living with a whole bullet in you for how long?" I knew Logan lived with fragments but a whole one for how long? "To long to be able to have the finest doctor remove it without terrible risk of hitting a major artery. And at my decreasing age…I'm not immune to the effects…it's why I needed to talk to you. To tell you what you need to know, but there are something's out there that must be discovered on one's own." I felt bad but I still didn't need riddles from him.
"I am sorry about your 'condition' White's a real asshole to be honest here but you need to tell us what we need to know, else wise the solution may come to late. Were smart, engineered to be that way, but genius level or not, without having the right materials we can't form a solution to the problem." I try to level at him. He pulls out a flash drive, "This is all I can give you, but I must go now. I only ever visit Seattle when he's busy with an out of town engagement it's the only time I get a chance. He has the full power of the conclave behind him, I have but a few followers." He stated sadly.
"Hey we'll take care of White, he's kind of on every transgenic and transhuman's hit list. I'm having a hard time trying to keep from killing him myself." I try to smirk. He walks forward and takes my shoulder in a fatherly gesture, "Please when you do it, make it painless. He's been influence his entire life, he doesn't know any better." I wanted to agree, but I couldn't, "I'm sorry but I don't think I could make that promise." I indicate behind me.
"They were influenced all their lives, with the exception of the last three years and now look at them, they hate Manticore as much as me." I reasoned, "Your son is on their last tether, yet he still works hard for them, to bring us down. I even told him the last time we saw him to run, that eventually the conclave would kill him. He obviously didn't listen. There's just some amount of brainwashing that can't be reverted back." Thoughts of people lost to us before flashed before my eyes.
"We can't save them but we can save the other several hundred X series out there. Not to mention the people the conclave plan to eradicate. Though now it makes me wonder, why kill off ALL humans? How many familiars are there in the world?" he looked me in the eyes, "They want to take what they feel is their rightful place as leaders in the world and sadly, there are more of them then there are of you." Oh shit.
"How many more?" Cece now asked, stepping forward, curious now as to how many of those cult freaks were really out there. Sandman looked to her, "Over a thousand. In different areas of the world, all waiting for the main group here, in Seattle to come forth and claim the lands. Once they succeed while you're busy with the government they will do the same thing as well." I scoffed, "Sounds like a poor alien invasion movie." "In this case it'll be real." Alec groaned in agitation at the news.
"We should go now." Gamble tried to usher us away. "We nodded feeling we may have over stayed our welcome. Cece walked out first when she shoved us back in, looking shocked and a bit panicked, "White's out there!" now we were worried, "How did he find us? No one said anything!" Alec peaked back outside, "Well he's not here for a stay himself, and he's got four of his own with him, definitely not a cruise. He's looking for us." Fuck! How…? I looked around to notice one man behind them was starting to sweat.
"What does he have of yours that you're willing to sell us out?" I demanded. Stunned when all eyes went to him, and the betrayal of Sandman's he confessed in a tone of fear, "They found my family, took Annette and our boys. I didn't have a choice. They send me a picture every hour to let me know their still alive. I'm sorry." Sandman looked back to me, "How did you know." I looked to him, "He was the only one in here sweating what might happen. The others were calculating odds, him, sweating what might happen." I explained.
"Oh by the way, the moment they get what they want, they kill your family anyways, its what they do." I sent reality crashing in on the poor, moronic man, "For a former familiar, you sure are dumb enough not to see that betrayal coming." White's guy came down first, 'Figures…you guys get him out of here, via window, Alec take point behind me, Daniel and Cece, take point behind him, make sure that they get out safely." I commanded, first talking to Sandman and his men, then Alec, then Daniel and Cece.
"Let's Rock." I smirk, hoping that with us having the element of knowing their coming that we can gain the advantage on them. Being at the end of the hallway, we had the advantage of at least 15 feet of jumping distance to take the first two guys down. Now just to wait for the right moment to act. They were going slowly, waiting, watching, "We had to get the smart group for once." I mutter in irritation.
I looked around the hallway, before looking back in the room to see if I could use anything, "Think we can bind them?" Alec saw the phone cord I was looking at, he looked back to me in disbelief, "Seriously? That couldn't us let alone them." I waved him off, "I mean as a way entangle them, not to tie them up. I have a few tricks up my sleeves." He shrugged in a 'go for it' look, "Just make sure it has its effects." He muttered.
"Gott'cha covered." I smile. Grabbing the phone cord, I wrap it around my wrist, gaining at least a few feet, hopefully enough to tangle these dicks up. Looking back out I see their positioning has changed. "Change of plans Alec you and I take the walls to the first two then comes in Daniel and Cece." Indicating use the walls and our cat agility Alec states sarcastically as he gives me a pensive look, "Cats weren't actually designed to climb walls you know." I smiled, "Well since cats weren't designed, then I guess you have a point."
Realizing I caught him we took off. I went through the door first, catching the sights of the first two familiars, two new ones added. Hum. Using the agility that I possessed and the nice grips on my boots I side stepped myself onto the wall, essentially climbing it as Alec did the same on the other side, both of us coming in at an angle extremely hard to shoot at. Not to mention we were spinning to avoid more flying bullets.
I could feel a few slip past me indicating the familiars were correcting their angles to hit us more accurately. Thing is with their guns on us it left them open to Daniel and Cece, who blurred – the things you can spot mid spin – and disarmed them. No more bullets flying I landed knee first on Xander's chest, using the momentum I took him down. Landing hard on the ground I stabbed his neck with the 'elixer' we had.
His eyes rolled up while Alec did the same to his guy. Though I was hard pressed not to laugh at the sight. Alec on the ground, his legs wrapped around the guys neck and right shoulder. The tightness spoke of how hard a fight the familiar gave him, "I hate these guys." Complained. I smirked standing up, "Why? Because they give you a challenge?" he walked with me to the end of the hall as Daniel and Cece finally took down theirs. "White must have taken off when we came out side." I surmised.
"I hate them because monkey see monkey do." I turned to him with a 'WHAT?' expression on my face, "We both went for each other's throats." He rubbed his now visibly bruised neck. I touched the tender area, "Ouch, have to take care of that when we get home." He smiled a tad at the comfort the mere touch provided, "Maybe you can rub some oil on it." he suggested, "Maybe you two can wait till we kick these bastards asses before groping one another." Daniel snapped, "Hate to agree but he's right." Cece added.
Back in fighting mode Alec ignored the statement and pressed onward. Now there were two hallways they could have gone down. "Alec you and I go this way, Cece, you and Daniel go that way. Com check's every five minutes. We don't know where White is." Everyone nodded without compliant. Turning right Alec and I saw another corner. "I didn't think this place was that big?" Alec muttered in annoyance.
"Me neither…got three familiars. I take the walls and leave the first one open for you, then I take the ones behind him. You can nail the second guy once I get over the first one." He mutely agreed before I took to the walls again. Gaining the fire power back, Alec blurred and took him out while I went over him, wrapped my legs around the second guys waist, then used opposing momentum to pull back, sending him, and avoiding the slam myself, slamming him down on Alec's guy.
Letting go Alec gave four upper cuts to the face, before the familiar tried to slam his elbow into his shoulder. Alec jumped up and slammed his booted foot with as much force as he could into the familiars knee cap, completely shattering it. The familiar looked pissed that he was feeling pain, or at least their version of it, "Yeah feel that. Pain. Dickweed." He stuck him in the neck with the last of his 'elixer' before noticing the second one behind me was getting up.
"Time to take out the trash." I mutter, agitated now myself…where did White go and why are there so many of his lackeys in the hallways? I took two steps, slammed my foot down into his left knee cap, completely breaking it, as I used it to vault myself upward and slam my other knee into his chin, effectively knocking him out with the need for 'elixer'. He went down. Both breathing somewhat more roughly considering we had just taken down four familiars I had to ask him, "Is it me or are these guys getting thicker in numbers?"
He came up behind me, "Yeah, lets figure out why later and focus on finding White and getting out. Com check." He pressed his index finger to his ear to check for Daniel and Cece, "You mean the dick and the whinny bitch I've got right here?" oh shit! I looked to Alec's angered face, "White. Shoulda' known we couldn't go a week without hearing your stupid smug voice. How life treating you? Been doing well with your conclave?" he grinned at the pause, "Oh that's right you're not exactly the wacky cults favorite little lackey these days are you."
"If you want your friends to remain alive, for the next five minutes that is, then come to the other end of the hotel here. Oh and ah there are some friends that would love to meet you." Not saying anything I let Alec speak, "And we can't wait to meet them. See you in less than five." Turning the com's off we raced at top X5 speed into the opposite direction. Not even bothering to verbally communicate we knew trap or not, you don't leave behind or abandon your team mates, or your unit.
As predicted there were no more, White's attempt to scare us I supposed. We got there only to find four of them, and White himself standing there, pleased as punch. One familiar had a knife to Daniel's throat, another had a gun to Cece's head. "Max!" she yelled, startling me, "Don't do it! Whatever he asks for don't do it." she shouted, earning her a slam of the gun into the back of her head. I looked to White is annoying disgust.
"Seriously, you can't fight me on your own, you need a whole gang of familiars to beat my ass down? There's a word for people like you White. Pathetic. Your own conclave is getting ready to get rid of you and your to blinded by your faith in them to see it." I remarked at his stupidity, "Not if I bring your bodies in." "Run." A small voice from Daniel caught mine and Alec's sensitive ears. He looked to Alec, "Get her out of here. Were all dead if we stay, get her out and be with your girls." I was stunned.
"No!" I stood stubborn, "Never abandon your unit, don't you dare forget the one good thing Manticore ever taught us. We are better than them. We're better than making un necessary sacrifices." I strongly stated, "Your scum, rats have a higher place in this world than you." I heard White say, "Yeah…?" I sarcastically questioned. Calculating what to do next I stood closer to Alec and tapped Morris code into his side, alerting him to my plan. He stiffened but accepted the plan.
"Always gotta be the hard way." he muttered under his breath. "Hard's the fun way." I smile back, he chuckles, "Whole different expertise Max." we act. Seeing two of them come at us I grab the phone cord I snatched, pulling the loops from my wrist and quickly wrap them around my familiars arm, preventing him from punching me, then wrap the arm around his neck lighting fast. Angered he goes to kick me, I kick his knee down before he can bring it a foot up off the ground himself.
He swings his other arm up, I block then smash my elbow into his face earning a grunt from him, "No so much fun huh?" I grunt out myself. I use his angered distraction to vault myself over his head, using my cat like ability and grace, entrapping him within the phone cord, now wound to tightly around his neck to easily snap. The familiar holding Daniel pointed his gun towards me, it gave Daniel the timing he needed to snap his left elbow into the man, dislodging the weapon before he slammed his fist into his face making the familiar back up a step towards me.
"Hey!" I called out, the familiar looked to me. I slammed my elbow into his face then as he went to hit me, I dodged his hand, let him move forward placing me behind him as I slammed my elbow into the back of his head. Spinning around his front I slammed my knee into his chest, shoving his back to the ground. Following his descent I ended up taking the familiar currently tangled in the phone cord with us both, expelling the air from his lungs, not stopping him but currently having him down on the ground.
Hit both of them with the 'elixer' and having no more left I saw Daniel fighting White with Alec and Cece fighting her own familiar, "Hey!" I called to him. He stopped punching her long enough to see me cat jump around his neck. Cece having been his captive was grateful to gain some breath again. He hadn't abandon her like his cohort had similarly with Daniel. He stayed on her and tried to choke her to death.
I used the momentum to swing around the guy, taking him off his balance, trying to swing him to the ground. Once he was off balance I loosened my leg grip, wrapped my left around his neck and slammed him as painfully into the ground as possible. Grabbing his gun I gave it to Cece, "Just immobilize him. Knee caps should be good. He may not feel it but even the human body can't walk without its 'caps'."
She nodded, and just as he was about to strike again she shoot both of his knee caps out. It was effective in keeping him down. Killing, no, but immobilizing, yes. Now to see where Alec and Daniel were. Fighting White yes but where. Stopping I honed my hearing down to any disturbances in the area. Hearing something up top I spoke to Cece, "Check the upper floors I'm hitting the rooftop." I didn't give her a chance to argue or respond as I ran to the stairwell. I blurred up two more flights of stairs, and opened the roof access door.
I spotted an unconscious Daniel. His form was limp but alive. The pipe next to the door was a clear indication of what was use to knock him out. Hearing more grunts I looked behind the cooling unit to find Alec and White facing off against one another. Passing barbs back and forth to try and weaken the other one psychologically. "I'm quite curious as to why your still here, 494, you didn't strike me as the loyal type."
Alec merely smirked, "I am loyal, used to be only to myself but now a days, there's a bigger picture out there than just myself. Just like there's a bigger picture than just your plans of eradicating us and humans from this place." White didn't like the double meaning of it so I went in for a jab. Alec's quick reflexes saved him from earning another blow. "You do know the only reason you won your few fights with Max was because one, first time she was injured, and secondly she didn't want to actually kill you."
White looked at him pitifully, "She's nothing more than a waste of space, not worth of actually giving a decent fight to." The barb was there, and Alec's jaw ticked, "She's a good fighter, but you'll find that out soon enough." He stepped out of his combat stance and looked to me, as if he knew I was there the whole time, "You care to jump in, I'm getting a little bored fighting this dick." The sneer in his words was clear as day. Only Alec could sneer, and still, still be sexy about it.
"Another rooftop." I surmised, as White gave Alec a menacing gaze while shifting his features to myself. "Only now its fighting me, not an injury. Think you can handle that?" I asked walking closer, stalking him predatorily. I wanted him to feel even a small amount of fear from me. It was time he figured out what would happen. No doubt some of his familiars were waking up and telling their boss of White's newest failure.
His end might be sooner than expected, and if so, so might our threat that came with him, "You were to weak to kill me on the roof tops, not just because of an injury, but because you lack the need to kill a person. Your mind is weak 452, that is why you won't win this war." He prepped up for battle as I swallowed my anger as his words. Instead I forced a cat like smile to my face, drawing on my feline DNA to give me mental strength as well as physical.
"I know what it's like to want to complete your mission because you feel you'll die by the people who sent you if you don't. But word to the wise, unlike you, I would never sacrifice innocent people to do it. that's the difference between us, not a battle of weakness over killing but the weakness of know whom the right person is that actually needs to die. You and the conclave, the ones that want to kill and takeover deserve a fate worse than death." He looked at me oddly, "And what pray tell would that be?"
"Being stuck failing for the last time and having no true purpose, the humans keep their world, transgenics and transhumans are accepted and there's nothing you can do about it." he seemed enraged. Essentially a fate worse than death, is ultimate failure in his eyes. He launched his first attacks at me. Blurring around him, I nailed him in the back of the head with my elbow, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"You won't win 452." He taunted, "You sure?" I almost questioned, feeling good about this fight we were in. letting my feline DNA out a little bit more so than normal I blurred forward, jumped midway, wrapped my legs around his neck, flipped him over my body, only to release him half way, landing on my feet while he landed with a thud on his back. Jumping back up, he seemed a bit infuriated.
"What? Is the wittle psychopath going to cwy now?" I mocked out, deliberately to get his anger risen. He rushed me, but his speed wasn't fast enough to catch me. I blurred behind him, then blurred forward, and once again jumped up only to slam my booted feet into the back of his suit jacket. His body slammed forward into the cooling unit before turning himself over. I used a spinning kick to take him down the rest of the way but he caught my foot.
Yanking he slammed my upper body into the cooling unit as well. I grunted from the impact but otherwise used my other foot to flip kick over into a back flip. Forcing his hold on my other foot and slamming my flip kick foot up into his chin sending him back a few feet. "You scum have no idea what your MESSING WITH!" he shouted at me, while getting up. "You know the funny thing here is…" he looked at me once he was fully off the ground.
"I have the decency to wait until you're off the ground to fight, you kick a person down while on the ground. Cheap shots, White, cheap shots. It won't win the day but will surely tell your opponent what you're made of." I smirked at him. I was all of a sudden glad I had been training my body since I first met this asshole. He was a no pain no gain freak that would put me down if I didn't have the means.
Cause at the end of the day, it's not just the support of your friends and family, its what you can bring to the table as well. Now he circled me, "Come on White, give me your best shot." I taunted, the feline and soldier within wanting to end this cat and mouse game that he was trying to take control of. Breaking a piece of rebarb off the side of the cooling unit he went to hit me with it.
Four defensive strikes, and two dodges landed me now weaponless and wishing I had one, "Figures you'd cheat." I throw a barb at him. One more defensive maneuver, only this time he used it to throw me over his shoulder. I landed on my shoulder briefly before getting back on my feet, however as I said before he was willing to hit a person while down so I had little time to get back up before he slammed his fist into my face twice. "Max?!" Alec called out, concerned, wanting to know if he should jump in.
"Got it!" I called back. I was finishing this fight. White used the moment to haul me around his front again where he slammed his fist into my gut, pinning me momentarily to the cooling unit, "You will fail." He dug his fists deeper, trying to make his point and cause me pain. Releasing my stomach he grabbed me around the throat, "You are nothing compared to me!" I broke the hold, causing him to drop me before I used the cooling unit to vault up and slam both booted feet into his face, sending him reeling back.
Alec grabbed him by the collar, "What I got bored watching you two play." He remarked before shooting him with the 'elixer' in the neck, effectively taking him out. "How many times are we going to have to beat his ass? Ball park figure Max?" Alec asked me. I huffed, "Let's just get Daniel and Cece, then we can get out of here and figure out how he knew we'd be here." I was pissed off that such a meeting ended up in such a fight.
"Thought you ran out?" I asked, indicating the 'elixer', "Found another vial on me while I was watching you play cat and mouse with him. You know I gotta admit, seeing you go all predator on him was kinda hot." I laughed at his remark, "Really? Wanna be my new prey?" I asked, grabbing the lapels of his leather jacket and pulling him in closer, "When we get home I can go then you can go." I smiled in agreement before we made our way downstairs.
It took us mere minutes to check everyone in and to get out of the hotel, assuring that Sandman was alright with Gamble. Racing back to TC we walked in ready to have a nice little meeting of our own about this sudden new threat White was preparing for us. Calling Mole, Zack, Syl, and Krit in as Joshua, Cece, Daniel and Alec were already in there. "What's this about? The meeting with the bad guys not go as planned." Zack's dead panned attitude didn't go un noticed, "That part went well, the part where White showed up went a little differently."
"We can't tru - " Alec cut him off, "Easy 'memory boy' just let her finish. He settled back down next to me while I relayed the points to the meeting. "White and his band of cronies crashed the end of the meeting." I remark. "Let me guess Gamble is the ma - " I was sick of Zack's attitude and apparently so was Krit by this point, "Zack, you're my big brother but ease the hell up. He's been proving his worth for months now." But Zack didn't like that.
"So you trust him? You all trust him?" he asked everyone in the room, "It wasn't Gamble it was one of Sandman's familiars, White threatened to kill his family if he didn't. Stupid move we all know but it wasn't anyone's fault or stupidity but his own." Zack mumbled out something that sounded like 'whatever' as I continued the meeting. "NO what concerns me is White's new play against us." I continued on.
"He plans on getting the government to want to take us back into the military, now I can't stop anyone from leaving here, to willingly join in with it, but I can guarantee one thing. It's a front for White to sneak past us and the government and initiate their take over. It's a front for their plans. We need to find out how they plan to initiate it and stop them for good." a lot of nods of agreement were seen about the room.
Now I'm going to go out there and tell everyone and let them decide for themselves, cause this decision is to big for US to make for ALL of them. Everyone has a voice to be heard, if someone wants to join back in, that's their dealio, but the rest of us who decide to stay, needs to work with us to STOP White and his cult freaks." more collective nods before I walked out and went to the center of the second level of command. One whistle from Alec brought a collective group of heads to attention.
Feeling the eyes of dozens of people on me and more coming in the room to see what all the 'hub bub' was about moved me to speak, "We've been told of a move by White, one that will change the course of how we might work. He's getting the government to try and take us back so that he and his cult freaks can try a takeover. But we're NOT going to let him do that. We will fight to keep this place this 'world' ours." I started off, Alec's presence behind me helpful.
"We're not going to let a bunch of snake worshiping psychopaths take away everything we've worked so hard for. We'll win, and not just for us. For every transgenic, transhuman, nomilie, pys ops personnel and human out there in the world." A collective round of nods could be seen, giving me more need to get this out. The niner they once saw as a traitor was now gone, at least to the eyes and ears in this room.
Now they didn't just follow me due to my time on the outside, my savory speeches, or the fact that I had their loveable, loyal alpha as my mate, no now they saw that we needed to come together, and to stow away the differences once and for all, "As far as I'm concerned White's power move is essentially him declaring war and if that's what he wants it's what we'll give him." I was done with White and his stupid conclave.
"Cause as far as I see it, this is our last mission to deal with them, for this we are an army, then it's done, were over them and their stupid ideals of conquer and death. They can crawl under a rock for life for all I care. So they want to get rid of us, send US to hell, then let hell choke on us and spit us right back at them cause were NOT going down. NOT without a fight. So I ask you today, as your CO, do you want to be military again or to fight for our freedom?" everyone in there knew if it was military, they'd be treated as before, a piece of property.
"Freedom." Joshua howled out in a voice that boomed over the entirety of HQ. More people chanted it, more people shouted it. Its official, "Were going to war with White and the government, what could possibly go wrong." Even as I muttered it to Alec we both chuckled in agitation already knowing how many ways it could. "I'm not letting anyone take my home from me." he pulled me closer to him as we walked down the HQ stairs together. I hope we can beat this bitch…